Prepare For Your Jaw to Drop After Seeing 2015's Top Photos

Flickr user Albert Dros

While most of us were busy picking out the best Instagram filters, some photographers were searching for their best shot. Check out Flickr's top 10 photos of the year and get inspired to think bigger next time you're out shooting.

The photos were not chosen by the number of "likes" they received (as was the case with 2015's top Instagram pictures), but by a "combination of social and interactive elements." These include how much a photo was favorited or viewed on Flickr. If someone had multiple photos that met the criteria, Flickr chose the top photo from that person.

What ended up being the top photo? One of the SpaceX missions — which was not that surprising considering how much space has captured people's attention recently. That picture has more than 900,000 views and 5,000 faves.

Check out the rest of the stunning photos ahead.

01
CRS-4
Flickr user SpaceX Photos

CRS-4

"SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft launched from Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, for their fourth official Commercial Resupply (CRS) mission to the orbiting lab on Sunday, Sept. 21 at 1:52am EDT." — Flickr user SpaceX Photos

02
Stormy Porthcawl
Flickr user Steve Garrington

Stormy Porthcawl

"I do enjoy going back and looking over the many photos I've taken of this lighthouse in stormy weather and finding one that I previously missed that I think is good enough to post here. Here's one I spotted recently that I'm very pleased with, hope you like it. For the record, this is a full colour image, just a grey day." — Flickr user Steve Garrington

03
"Self Reflection"
Flickr user JK

"Self Reflection"

An old man is lost in thought, and his reflection perfectly captures it in this photo by Flickr user JK.

04
Borgo Incantato
Flickr user 1959dr

Borgo Incantato

An Italian village gets shrouded in mist in this photo by Flickr user 1959dr.

05
Goose Herd
Flickr user iwona_podlasinska

Goose Herd

"If you think it's easy to take photos of kids with animals you're wrong . . . Plus using a manual lens . . . almost impossible." — Flickr user iwona_podlasinska

06
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Flickr user Elena Shumilova

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A child looks as serene as the rabbit she is holding in this photo by Flickr user Elena Shumilova.

07
Magical Light
Flickr user George Probst

Magical Light

"This one was a 'happy little accident' (as the late Bob Ross would have described it). I was hoping for a sharp silhouette of this great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) but ended up with a faint reflection of the being captured on the inner surface of my dome port, so I had to dial the exposure down some more and boost the contrast, which resulted in a "magical" quality to the sunlight breaking through the water's surface." — Flickr user George Probst

08
Typical Dutch!
Flickr user Albert Dros

Typical Dutch!

"This was taken last week right after sunset. Zaanse Schans is a famous windmill village in the Netherlands that attracts many tourists. This spot has been photographed countless times, but this was my first time at this particular spot!" — Flickr user Albert Dros

09
Keep Staring
Flickr user David Olkarny

Keep Staring

A young woman is caught in what feels like an endless stare in this photo by Flickr user David Olkarny.

10
OM-D E-M5II
Flickr user Thomas Leuthard

OM-D E-M5II

"Reduced to perfection." — Flickr user Thomas Leuthard